Tips for Surviving a Kitchen Remodel

After your kitchen is out of commission, you’ll have a better appreciation of just how much time you spend in it and how much you miss having it. Besides the inconvenience, you’ll also find that a sizeable chunk of money will be spent on eating meals out.

Don’t forget to build this expense into your remodeling budget. A family of four can easily spend $20 to $30 on an evening meal, even at a fast-food restaurant. Add in the cost of breakfast and lunch for the same size family and you’re looking at between $75 and $100 a day for meals, so budget accordingly.

Here are a few ideas that will help you make it through mealtimes without breaking the bank:

Move appliances into other rooms: Just because your cooktop and oven aren’t available, doesn’t mean you can’t cook at home at least some of the time. The microwave oven and refrigerator can be moved to temporary homes and still be used. Move the microwave into another room to cook foods or heat up leftovers. Although frozen foods may not be five-star cuisine, they’re cheaper than eating out. Just remember not to overload circuits and don’t put both of these appliances on the same circuit — even for the short period of remodeling.

Alter your normal eating habits to save money: For example, breakfasts don’t have to include bacon and eggs every morning. Try eating fresh fruit and muffins instead. And when it comes to lunches and snacks, buy things that can be stored without refrigeration or don’t need to be reheated or cooked. Be open to alternatives and willing to adjust your eating habits during the remodeling process. Besides, after your new kitchen’s done, you’ll be able to fix all of your old favorites in the new digs!

Ask for help: If family or friends ask what they can do to help, tell them to invite your family over for dinner or to bring in lunch on a couple of days. Feeding the troops is just as important as swinging a hammer or hanging drywall!

If you’re planning a lengthy or involved kitchen remodel, plan a weekend away from everything somewhere near the middle of the project. Go to a hotel or motel for a couple of nights and relax. Take in a movie or see a play; do something other than remodeling! This short break may be the best gift you can give yourself during the project.

Yes, you’ll spend some money, but this hiatus will bring you back rested and energized, ready to finish up the project. If you do build in a mid-project getaway, try to schedule around parts of the projects that may have fumes or odors to deal with, for example, when the cabinet or floor finish is being applied and needs to dry. If you can’t find the time for a mid-project getaway, you may want to reward yourself with a weekend getaway when the project’s completed.